CASE REPORT
Microbial quality of water in dental unit reservoirs.
 
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1
Department of Paedodontics, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin, Poland
 
2
Department of Health Care Management and Economics, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin, Poland
 
3
Laboratory of Microbiological Diagnostic, Clinical Hospital No. 1, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin, Poland
 
4
Department of Occupational Biohazards, Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin, Poland
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2004;11(2):355-358
 
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ABSTRACT
Microbial quality of water in a dental unit is of considerable importancesince patients and dental staff are regularly exposed to water and aerosol generated by the unit. Waterdelivered to a dental unit by the so-called independent water system is the water coming from a reservoirwhich, at the same time, is an initial part of dental unit waterlines (DUWL). Thus, microbiological qualityof this water is extremely important for the quality of water flowing from dental handpieces. The aimof the study was to assess microbiologically the water contained in dental unit reservoirs. Water sampleswere collected aseptically from the water reservoirs of 19 dental units. Results concerning microbialcontamination: potable water quality indices, and detection and isolation of Legionella species bacteria,were presented. Over a half of the samples did not comply with the norms for potable water. In 63.1%of the cases, the number of colony forming units (cfu/ml) and of coliform organisms significantly exceededacceptable values. Enterococcus was not detected in the samples of examined water. Similarly, no Legionellawere found in the samples of dental unit reservoirs water. Reservoirs as water supplies and initial segmentof DUWL should be subject to protocol to eliminate microbial contamination and routine monitoring toguarantee an appropriate quality of water used in dental treatment.
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
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